A PENSIONER with serious medical conditions has spent more than two weeks without any heating or hot water - even spending her 80th birthday in the cold.

Her son, former Mayor of Charnwood, Ken Brailsford, who served on the council for 16 years, called the situation "a disgrace."

Barbara Brailsford, of Durham Road, Loughborough, who suffers with diabetes and arthritis, needs heating to survive the winter months in her council home.

Her boiler broke down two weeks ago and despite many calls to Charnwood Borough Council, it still has not been fixed.

Outraged Ken told the Echo: "This is the fourth year that her boiler has broken and we have called the council again and again but they don't seem to be taking this complaint seriously.

"I am desperately concerned about her health - what do they want? Are they waiting for a body?"

On Tuesday, October 7, she was forced to spend her 80th birthday in the cold and for the last two weeks has been boiling saucepans of water just to keep clean.

"This is not good," said Ken. "In her condition, she shouldn't be carrying hot water up and down the stairs."

A spokesman from Charnwood Neighbourhood Housing Ltd said: "Ms Brailsford will be compensated for the loss of heating and inconvenience caused by gas contractor P H Jones on this occasion and will receive a formal face to face apology from our contractor.

"We pride ourselves on providing an excellent repairs and maintenance service to the tenants of Charnwood.

"We are very disappointed that Ms Brailsford's heating was not repaired more quickly on this occasion. This matter will be fully investigated and actions put in place to ensure lessons are learnt."

No-one at P H Jones was available for comment as the Echo went to press.